SKETCHES OF COURT: Rainy day slip-and-fall case settled for $375K
In this courtroom sketch, Hon. Kathy King listens as plaintiff’s attorney Scott Zlotolow (standing), of the law offices of Zlotolow & Associates, conducts a direct examination of his client in the premises liability trial Hargett-Rock v. DSJ Management, et al.
Corwin DelToro (at right), of the law offices of Margaret G. Klein & Associates, represented the building owner and management.
Hargett-Rock was leaving for work one afternoon in November 2013 when she was seriously injured exiting her building. The 50-year-old’s slip-and-fall was recorded by a video surveillance security camera. The attorneys on both sides accused the other party of negligence or comparative negligence, and both alleged that the evidentiary video would support their position in the liability phase of the trial.
DelToro noted that it had been raining for two days and that steps had been taken to maintain the premises in reasonably safe condition, including mopping and placing down a floor mat. In the half-hour video, Hargett-Rock can be seen to fall after her foot slips onto the tiled floor near an area that was covered by a mat. DelToro faulted Hargett-Rock for not paying attention and thereby contributing to the cause of her own accident.
Zlotolow alleged that the defendants were aware of an ongoing situation and were negligent in not meeting their duty of care.
The building porter was scheduled to testify for the plaintiff, but the parties arrived at a settlement of $375,000 after testimony from Hargett-Rock and from her daughter, who could be seen in the grainy video taking pictures.
Court Reporter Debra Russo transcribed the proceedings in Kings County Civil Term.
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